Princess Marie celebrated her 38th birthday this year one day after sis-in-law Mary (What are the odds?). Her family’s photo call seems to be been more extended. Here we have Marie, Princess Athena, Prince Nikolai, Prince Felix, Prince Henrik and Prince Joachim.

Smile! (via Zimbio)

This photo with Princess Athena is my favourite for obvious reasons.

Where are your goggles? (via Zimbio)

Marie and the family did a little meet and greet with the press in a restaurant as well. She likes a good pares-ski beverage!

Princess Marie in Villars (via ZImbio)

Looks like a cozy little joint. Happy Birthday to Marie.

via Zimbio

February 20: HRH Princesss Leonore Lillian Marie, Duchess of Gotland

Next up is Princess Madeleine and Chris O’Neill’s new daughter, who’s name and title was just announced today. It’s official: she’s a princess AND a duchess, so Madeleine clearly decided NOT to go the Princess Anne route and forgo titles for her children. It had seemed to me like the Swedish royal family wanted to keep things tight and streamlined (and therefore focused on Princess Victoria and her family), but clearly not! Fascinating, right?

King Carl Gustav and Queen Silvia travelled to New York over the weekend to meet her. The King was back in Sweden today, where he announced the name at a meeting of the Cabinet Council and made the name public.

The King and Queen and wee Leonore (Via Princess Madeleine’s Facebook Page)

Lillian is likely a nod to Princess Lillian, Madeleine’s late great-aunt who had a fascinating life. Here it is in a nutshell: she was born in Wales in 1915, worked as a model and factory worked during WWII, married and divorced a Scottish actor, and met Prince Bertil of Sweden in 1943. They lived together but didn’t get married in case Bertil had to serve as regent, and that would’t have been allowed if he’d been married to a divorcee. Once Prince Carl Gustav (the current King) came of age and ascended the throne in 1973, they got married. Anyway, It seems like she was an awesome aunt.

Chris’s mum is named Eva Maria so that could be where Leonor’s second middle name comes from. So nice that she’s just two years younger than her cousin Princess Estelle!

February 21: Prince Amadeo of Belgium

Next up is Prince Amadeo of Belgium. He turned 28 on February 21st and I believe this is his first appearance on this blog. He is included here since he just announced his engagement to his girl friend of seven years, Elisabetta Rosboch von Wolkenstein, and that means we have another royal wedding to countdown to.

Amadeo is sixth in line to the Belgian throne as the son of Princess Astrid of Belgium and Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este. Elisabetta is Italian-born and they currently live in New York City (he has worked for Deloitte and she is a journalist). It’ll be interesting to see how the wedding plays out – I’m thinking it’ll be somewhat low key but still grand and held in Belgium (something in the vein of Zara’s wedding, but perhaps with a few more public pictures will be released). What do you think?

February 23: Princess Estelle of Sweden

Princess Estelle, big cousin to Princess Leonore, celebrated her second birthday on the 23rd. This is one of the pictures that was issued to celebrate.

Princess Estelle turns 2 (via Kungahuset.se)

It seems this ‘blowing out the candle pic’ will be a new tradition – last year we were treated to this picture.

Princess Estelle turns one (via Kungahuset.se)

My grandmother will not be delighted to see that the bow in the hair tradition has not only continued, but has gotten bigger. In her words: “you don’t do this to children.”

On that note, we’ll be back with more birthdays and royal fun in March!

Another marvel. I learn so much here. My fave are the pics of Princesses Athena and Estelle. Yes those goggles and the bows. Laughing at the “you don’t do that to children.” For me it’s headbands. Bows are fine.Tight, grippy and probably beyond painful headbands not so much.